Former Australian and Queensland cricketer looks to go out on a high

After stepping away from professional cricket, this former Australian and Queensland Bull gun was mentally drained but his local club gave him the passion to play again. Now he thanks them in his farewell game six years later.

One of the biggest house hold names in Queensland cricket decided to hang up his whites after the round nine clash between Queens and Surfers Paradise.

Former Queensland Bull Nathan Reardon donned the Demon’s colours for the last time as he looks to focus on family and his coaching business.

Reardon first debuted for Surfers Paradise at the very ground he played his last game on, at Queens’ Arthur Angove Park.

The 39-year-old said he will be hoping to have a better last game than the first game.

“I remember thinking I spent longer time driving down there to play than I did actually playing cricket,” Reardon joked.

“I thought to myself ‘if this is how it is going to be then I could be in trouble.’

Nathan Reardon in action on day 2 of the Cricket Gold Coast Kookaburra Cup Grand Final.

“But that was just an off week from the club, we had a few good games that year as well.

“As people have seen from the weekend, sometimes it is just not your day and sometimes it is.

“I did make that joke to James (Phelan) the six wicket over was the reason I was retiring.”

In Reardon’s first game for the club, Surfers Paradise were bowled out for just 27 with the left hander top scoring with 10.

That was in the 2017/18 season, fast forward four seasons later and Reardon helped Surfers Paradise defeat Runaway Bay to win the 2021/22 premier first grade premiership.

It was the first time Surfers had won the first grade flag since defeating Palm Beach in the 2004/05 season.

Reardon claimed man of the match for his 70 (116) and 3-36 from 16 overs.

The former Bull said he hasn’t bowled since the grand final victory.

“My body has never been the same after bowling that many overs straight, I don’t think I have bowled another over since,” Reardon said.

“But it was really good to win that premiership that year and break the drought for Surfers.

“We had been around the mark for a couple of years but just hadn’t got there.

“I think when I came in we were about 4-40, so Beamsy (Claye Beams) and I spent some time at the crease which was really nice.”

The pair put on 119 together to chase down Runaway Bays 181 for victory.

Beams finished on 67 not out, as Surfers passed the score five down.

President James Phelan laid praise to the outgoing cricketer.

“You won’t meet a bloke as easy going and as nice as Reardo,” Phelan said.

“Ever since he came down to the club, he has helped out in more ways than just playing cricket.

“He has helped develop the younger generation of the club, but also done a lot of off field stuff for the club.

“He is just a genuine bloke, a good bloke, one of a kind.”

Nathan Reardon in action on day 1 of the Cricket Gold Coast Kookaburra Cup Grand Final.

Phelan wasn’t the only member of the club who gave praise to the former Bull.

Coach Scott Day, who has been coaching and assistant coach of the club for as long as Reardon has been at the club said it has been unreal to have him down at the club.

“To get someone of his calibre, and character down at the club, he is a real funny bugger to be around,” Day said.

“Doesn’t matter if your 14 or 40, he is good company to have around.

“I think if you ask anyone at any level he has played cricket with, I believe they would all say the same thing.

“He coached last season, which is a huge effort because he drives down from Wyndham every week to play for us, or when he plays.

“And he is flat out with his own coaching clinic, fishing charter and a young family.

“So for him to drive down, to me shows that he really enjoyed his time down at Surfers.”

Now looking at the next chapter in his life, Reardon will be focusing on his young family.

“I have a five and a two year old, so they keep me and my wife very busy,” Reardon said.

“But I just want to give back to my family who have given so much to me to be able to play at the highest level.

“We will do the family stuff, go camping, enjoy the time together while the kids are young.

“Both of them are already keen cricketers, so it probably won’t be long until we are back at the cricket club.”

In 2014, Reardon played at the highest level, playing for Australia in two T20 Internationals when South Africa toured Australia.

Reardon played 30 first class matches, 88 domestic one-day matches and 75 domestic T20’s before retiring from professional cricket and joining Surfers Paradise.

“I have really enjoyed playing at Surfers Paradise, they are such a good club, great people make a club and that is what you get there,” Reardon said.

“I wanted to enjoy my cricket again after being at the professional stage and not have that pressure on me.

“There was always pressure to perform, don’t get me wrong.

“But the enjoyment I got playing back at grassroots cricket was and is such a great feeling to me.”

Surfers Paradise won comfortably over Queens, winning by 94 runs with Reardon top scoring with 72 from 43 balls.